Nautical Glossary - UVW

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

unbend

To cast adrift or untie

under bare poles

With no sails set

under lay

To make the "last tack" too early so that the mark cannot be rounded without another tack

under the lee

Protected from the wind by land, another boat, or object

undertow

Offshore current that is noticeable in a surf

under way

1. Moving under power of sail or motor; 2. When a vessel is in motion, and is not aground or made fast to shore or an anchor

unfurl

To unfold a sail or flag

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

union

The upper portion of a national flag near the hoist. In the US flag, this is the blue area with white stars.

union down

The situation when a flag is hoisted upside down, bringing the union down instead of up. Used as a distress signal.

Union Jack

A small flag consisting solely of the union potion of a national flag, without the fly

unlay

To open up or separate the strands of a line

unreeve

To pull a rope out from any block or sheave

unship

To remove something from its proper place

up, upwind or uphill

Toward the wind

up anchor

An order for the crew to weigh, or hoist up, the anchor

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

vane

1. A weathercock; 2. A device used to indicated wind direction

vang

1. A line used to steady the boom with sailing off the wind (leeward); 2. A device, usually with mechanical advantage, used to pull the boom down, flattening the sail.

variation

1. The angular difference between true north and the direction of magnetic north at a given point on earth; 2. The difference in degrees between true and magnetic north

v-bottom

A hull with bilges forming a V-section from chines to keel

veer

When the wind shifts in a clockwise direction, as would be seen from looking down from above the earth; Compare to back

veer and haul

To alternately slack up and haul away

veering wind

A shifting wind

vented loop

inverted U-shaped pipe with a vent at the top, used as a section in toilet discharge lines to prevent back siphoning.

ventilator

construction designed to lead air below decks. May have a cowl, which can be angled into or away from the wind; and may be constructed with baffles, so that water is not allowed below.

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

vernier scale

a scale used to obtain a precise reading of an instrument, particularly for mariners, of the altitude readings on a sextant.

vessel

A broad term for water-borne vehicles used without reference to size, particularly in laws and regulations relating to water traffic

voyage

Both outward and homeward passages

wake

A foamy swell caused by a boat passing through water

warp or warping

1. Heavy lines or rope used for towing, mooring, and anchoring; 2. To move a boat into position by manipulating lines extended to the shore, dock, or other object

wash

Waves produced by a boat moving through the water

watch

1. A period of duty to which part of a boat's crew is assigned; 2. Crew members assigned for a period of duty.

waterlight

An electric light, often automatically operated, that is attached to a life ring with a short length of line for use during man-overboard accidents at night

waterline

The plane where the surface of the water touches the hull when a boat is loaded normally

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

waterlogged

Swamped with water, but still afloat

waterways

Gutters along the edge of a boat's deck to aid in draining off water through the scuppers

way

Movement through the water

wear

1. To turn away from the wind; 2. To jibe

wearing ship

Same as jibe

weather

1. The windward side of the boat; 2. To safely pass to the windward side of an object without changing tack

weather helm

The natural tendency of a sailboat to turn toward the wind, which the helmsman feels as the tiller tries to turn to leeward

weather shore

Shore from which wind is blowing toward a vessel; Compare to leeward shore

weather tide

When wind and tide are going in the same direction

weather warnings

Radio, written, and visual warnings of increasing hazardous weather and sea conditions. See weather definitions

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

weigh

To lift up, as in weigh anchor

well-found

Well equipped

welting

fabric-covered cording with exposed seam allowances that can be sewed into seams for decoration, and to reinforce the seams of furniture covers.

wharf

A structure bordering the water and parallel to the shore to which boats are secured; Compare to dock and pier

wheel

Steering device on larger boats, in place of a tiller

whip

To bind the end of a rope with twine, cord, thread, or plastic sealant to keep the line from fraying.

whisker pole

1. A light spar extending from the mast and used to hold the jib out when sailing off the wind; 2. A short spar, normally kept stowed, which may be used to push the clew of a jib away from the boat when the boat is running downwind.

whiskers

The crosstrees on a bowsprit

whistle buoy

A buoy with a whistle that is actuated by the movement of the sea

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

wide berth

To give room

winch

1. A mechanical device for hauling in a line; 2. A device with a revolving drum, around which a line may be turned in order to provide mechanical advantage in hoisting or hauling; 3. A hand or power-operated mechanical device for exerting increased pull on a line or chain

windage

The amount of sail area presented as a target to the wind

windbound

Unable to sail because of contrary winds

windlass

1. A winch used for hauling cable, anchor chain or line; 2. A winch with its drum on which the line is wrapped turning on a horizontal axis; Compare to capstan 3. A mechanical device used for hoisting anchors or other heavy objects

wind rode

Riding head-to-wind at anchor, when the wind overcomes the tide

wind rose

a diagram usually shown on pilot charts that indicates the frequency and intensity of wind from different directions for a particular place

wind's eye or eye of the wind

The exact direction from which the wind is blowing

wind shadow

The turbulent air directly to leeward of a sail

windward

Toward the wind

wing and wing

1. Sailing with the mainsail set on one side and the foresail set on the other, so that one will not blanket the other; also called goosewing or wung out; 2. Running before a wind with sails set on both sides

[Top of Page] [Bottom of Page]

wire luff

A luff in which the usual bolt rope is replaced by a wire rope to provide strength when the sail is not bent to a stay

withe

An iron band fitted on the end of a boom or mast, with a ring or eye to it, through which another boom or mast or rigging is made fast

work or work to windward

1. To beat; 2. To tack; 3. To sail close-hauled on the wind

working anchor

Anchor carried on a boat for normal use; see lunch anchor and storm anchor

working end

The fastened or manipulated end of a line.

working sails

Regular sails used in ordinary weather

worm shoe

1. A false keel; 2. An extra piece of timber fastened externally to the bottom of the keel to protect it

wring

To bend or strain a mast by setting the rigging up too taut